Deu 1:1-4 | NETfull | STEP | This is what Moses said to the assembly of Israel in the Transjordanian wastelands, the arid country opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di Zahab

Deuteronomy 1:1-4

1 This is what ^{▼▼ Heb “These are the words.”} Moses said to the assembly of Israel ^{▼▼ Heb “to all Israel.”} in the Transjordanian ^{▼▼ Heb “on the other side of the Jordan.” This would appear to favor authorship by someone living on the west side of the Jordan, that is, in Canaan, whereas the biblical tradition locates Moses on the east side (cf. v. 5). However the Hebrew phrase בְּעֵבֶר הַיּרְדֵּן (b^e’ever hayyr^eden) is a frozen form meaning “Transjordan,” a name appropriate from any geographical vantage point. To this day, one standing east of the Jordan can describe himself as being in Transjordan.} wastelands, the arid country opposite ^{▼▼ The Hebrew term מוֹל (mol) may also mean “in front of” or “near” (cf. NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).} Suph, ^{▼▼ This place is otherwise unattested and its location is unknown. Perhaps it is Khirbet Sufah, 4 mi (6 km) SSE of Madaba, Jordan.} between ^{▼▼ The Hebrew term בֵּין (ben) may suggest “in the area of.”} Paran ^{▼▼ Paran is the well-known desert area between Mount Sinai and Kadesh Barnea (cf. Num 10:12; 12:16).} and Tophel, ^{▼▼ Tophel refers possibly to eṭ-Ṭafîleh, 15 mi (25 km) SE of the Dead Sea, or to Dâbîlu, another name for Paran. See H. Cazelles, “Tophel (Deut. 1:1),” VT 9 (1959): 412-15.} Laban, ^{▼▼ Laban. Perhaps this refers to Libnah (Num 33:20).} Hazeroth, ^{▼▼ Hazeroth. This probably refers to ʿAin Khadra. See Y. Aharoni, The Land of the Bible, 199–200.} and Di Zahab ^{▼▼ Di Zahab. Perhaps this refers to Mina al-Dhahab on the eastern Sinai coast.} 2 Now it is ordinarily an eleven-day journey ^{▼▼ An eleven-day journey was about 140 mi (233 km).} from Horeb ^{▼▼ Horeb is another name for Sinai. “Horeb” occurs 9 times in the Book of Deuteronomy and “Sinai” only once (33:2). “Sinai” occurs 13 times in the Book of Exodus and “Horeb” only 3 times.} to Kadesh Barnea ^{▼▼ Kadesh Barnea. Possibly this refers to ʿAin Qudeis, about 50 mi (80 km) southwest of Beer Sheba, but more likely to ʿAin Qudeirat, 5 mi (8 km) NW of ʿAin Qudeis. See R. Cohen, “Did I Excavate Kadesh-Barnea?” BAR 7 (1981): 20-33.} by way of Mount Seir. ^{▼▼ Mount Seir is synonymous with Edom. “By way of Mount Seir” refers to the route from Horeb that ended up in Edom Cf. CEV “by way of the Mount Seir Road”; TEV “by way of the hill country of Edom.”} 3 However, it was not until ^{▼▼ Heb “in” or “on.” Here there is a contrast between the ordinary time of eleven days (v. 2) and the actual time of forty years, so “not until” brings out that vast disparity.} the first day of the eleventh month ^{▼▼ The eleventh month is Shebat in the Hebrew calendar, January/February in the modern (Gregorian) calendar.} of the fortieth year ^{▼▼ The fortieth year would be 1406 b.c. according to the “early” date of the exodus. See E. H. Merrill, Kingdom of Priests, 66–75.} that Moses addressed the Israelites just as ^{▼▼ Heb “according to all which.”} the Lord had instructed him to do. 4 This took place after the defeat ^{▼▼ Heb “when he struck [or “smote”].”} of King Sihon ^{▼▼ See Deut 2:26–3:22.} of the Amorites, whose capital was ^{▼▼ Heb “who lived.”} in Heshbon, ^{▼▼ Heshbon is probably modern Tell Hesban, about 7.5 mi (12 km) south southwest of Amman, Jordan.} and King Og of Bashan, whose capital was ^{▼▼ Heb “who lived.”} in Ashtaroth, ^{▼▼ Ashtaroth is probably Tell ʿAshtarah, about 22 mi (35 km) due east of the Sea of Galilee.} specifically in Edrei. ^{▼▼ Edrei is probably modern Derʿa, 60 mi (95 km) south of Damascus (see Num 21:33; Josh 12:4; 13:12, 31).}